Document processing system, information processing apparatus, and setting methods therefor

ABSTRACT

When a user sets, from a user interface window using a bookbinding application, instructions of dividing a document into a plurality of parts and stapling each part of the document, a printer driver generates one job in which the staple attribute of a binder corresponding to each part is set to “ON” or “OFF”, and issues the job for a printer. With this operation, the user can perform staple designation to an arbitrary part of the document, and can realize a plurality of staple processes in one print job.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/241,568,filed Sep. 12, 2002, the entire contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a document processing system,constituted by a printing apparatus with a staple function and aninformation processing apparatus connected to the printing apparatus,the information processing apparatus, setting methods for the documentprocessing system and information processing apparatus, a program, and astorage medium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Different types of data such as characters, tables, and images requiredifferent structures which define the data and different editingoperations for the data. Various application programs are provided inaccordance with the type of data. The user uses different applicationprograms for different types of data to be edited, e.g., a characterprocessing program in order to edit characters, a spreadsheet program inorder to edit tables, and an image editing program in order to editimages.

In this way, the user generally uses different application programs fordifferent types of data to be edited. In general, a document to becreated by the user is made up of a plurality of types of data such ascharacters and tables, or characters and images, rather than a documentformed from only one type of data such as characters, tables, or images.To create a target document containing a plurality of types of data, theuser must use the printing functions of various applications to printdata by the respective applications, and combine the print materials ina desired order.

Some programs such as so-called “Office Suite” which forms oneintegrated application from various applications provide a function ofcombining data generated by respective applications into one document.The use of the integrated application allows the user to combine datacreated by respective applications into one target document by using aspecific application included in the integrated application.

To print a plurality of copies of a document during editing on theinformation processing apparatus such as a personal computer whilestapling each copy, in general, one copy of the document is printed by aprinting apparatus such as a printer, and the obtained print material isused as an original. This original is copied by a copying machinecapable of stapling while defining a staple instruction and designatingthe number of copies.

A printing apparatus such as a printer or copying machine which candirectly designate staple setting when an information processingapparatus is to print a document has recently been put to practical use.

However, to assign page numbers to pages when the user creates onetarget document by combining print materials by various applications,he/she must print out all necessary data, combine them into a document,and determine page numbers. Each application writes determined pagenumbers on respective pages (to be referred to as logical pages ororiginal pages) of an original created by the application. Even if theapplication program has a function of assigning page numbers, the pagenumbers of discontinuous pages must be designated by the user. If thepages of the target document are rearranged, page numbers must bereassigned in accordance with the rearrangement. These pages must alsobe edited and printed again by an application when not data contents butmerely the format is changed such that a plurality of original pages arecombined into one page (to be referred to as a physical page or printpage) as a print material, or single-sided printing is changed todouble-sided printing.

Since an application which can manage data changes depending on the typeof data, the user must manually provide an interface betweenapplications. This means that much labor is demanded of the user,decreasing the productivity. The many manual operations readily generateerrors.

The use of the integrated application for creating a target documentenables arranging various data in the data state without printing themout. No heavy labor is required as compared with creation of a targetdocument by combining print materials. However, applications for editingand creating various data are restricted to ones included in theintegrated application, so a user-desired application is not alwaysexploited. A target document created by the integrated application isone document file, and management such as editing and output is done foreach file. The application function poses many constraints on settingthe format of part of the document file. For example, the user mustchange format settings at a portion where the format is changed, andprint a target page again. This leads to much labor and lowproductivity, similar to the above-mentioned method.

In staple control, the conventional printer employs a method ofdesignating to a printer job whether to perform stapling. Theconventional printer can designate to staple a whole document together,but cannot designate to staple a specific range of the document.Therefore, a plurality of parts of one document and only one part of adocument cannot be stapled. To staple the specific part of a document, amethod is available in which a partial printing function of theapplication is used to repeat partial printing of a part to be stapled.However, this method is cumbersome and generates a plurality of printjobs in printing one document. Unlike the general print job, print jobcontrol such as stop of printing and status display must be performedfor the plurality of print jobs. In addition, interrupts may begenerated from other print jobs in a shared printer connected to thenetwork.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in consideration of the prior art,and has as its object to provide a document processing system whichallows the user to give a staple instruction to an arbitrary part of adocument, an information processing apparatus, setting methods of thedocument processing system and information processing apparatus, aprogram, and a storage medium.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a documentprocessing system which can realize a plurality of staple processes byone print job, an information processing apparatus, setting methods ofthe document processing system and information processing apparatus, aprogram, and a storage medium.

To achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the presentinvention, there is provided a document processing system constituted bya printing apparatus with a staple function and information processingapparatus connected to the printing apparatus, comprising; setting meansfor dividing a document into a plurality of parts, and setting a partialstaple instruction which instructs each of the plurality of partswhether to perform stapling; generation means for generating print datain accordance with the partial staple instruction set by the settingmeans; and staple means for stapling each of the plurality of parts ofthe document on the basis of the generated print data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda document processing system constituted by a printing apparatus with astaple function and information processing apparatus connected to theprinting apparatus, comprising; designation means for designatingwhether to staple a whole document or each of a plurality of parts ofthe document; generation means for generating print data of the documentinto one job when the whole document is designated to be stapled, andgenerating print data in a plurality of jobs for jobs designated forstapling and jobs designated not for stapling when each of the pluralityof parts of the document is designated to be stapled; and staple meansfor stapling the whole document or each of the plurality of parts of thedocument on the basis of the generated print data.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an information processing apparatus connected to a printingapparatus with a staple function, comprising; setting means for dividinga document into a plurality of parts, and setting a partial stapleinstruction which instructs each of the plurality of parts whether toperform stapling; and generation means for generating print data inaccordance with the partial staple instruction set by the setting means.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an information processing apparatus connected to a printingapparatus with a staple function, comprising; designation means fordesignating whether to staple a whole document or each of a plurality ofparts of the document; and generation means for generating print data ofthe document into one job when the whole document is designated to bestapled, and generating print data in a plurality of jobs for jobsdesignated for stapling and jobs designated not for stapling when eachof the plurality of parts of the document is designated to be stapled.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of setting a document processing system constituted bya printing apparatus with a staple function and information processingapparatus connected to the printing apparatus, comprising; the settingstep of dividing a document into a plurality of parts, and setting apartial staple instruction which instructs each of the plurality ofparts whether to perform stapling; the generation step of generatingprint data in accordance with the partial staple instruction set in thesetting step; and the staple step of stapling each of the plurality ofparts of the document on the basis of the generated print data.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of setting a document processing system constituted bya printing apparatus with a staple function and information processingapparatus connected to the printing apparatus, comprising; thedesignation step of designating whether to staple a whole document oreach of a plurality of parts of the document; the generation step ofgenerating print data of the document into one job when the wholedocument is designated to be stapled, and generating print data in aplurality of jobs for jobs designated for stapling and jobs designatednot for stapling when each of the plurality of parts of the document isdesignated to be stapled; and the staple step of stapling the wholedocument or each of the plurality of parts of the document on the basisof the generated print data.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of setting an information processing apparatusconnected to a printing apparatus with a staple function, comprising;the setting step of dividing a document into a plurality of parts, andsetting a partial staple instruction which instructs each of theplurality of parts whether to perform stapling; and the generation stepof generating print data in accordance with the partial stapleinstruction set in the setting step.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of setting an information processing apparatusconnected to a printing apparatus with a staple function, comprising;the designation step of designating whether to staple a whole documentor each of a plurality of parts of the document; and the generation stepof generating print data of the document into one job when the wholedocument is designated to be stapled, and generating print data in aplurality of jobs for jobs designated for stapling and jobs designatednot for stapling when each of the plurality of parts of the document isdesignated to be stapled.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a stand-alone document processingsystem;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a computer which implements thedocument processing system;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing an example of a book file structure;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are tables showing a list of book attributes;

FIG. 5 is a table showing a list of chapter attributes;

FIG. 6 is a table showing a list of page attributes;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing procedures of opening a book file;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing procedures of importing an electronicoriginal file into a book file;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing procedures of converting application datainto an electronic original file;

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of a user interface window when anexisting book file is opened;

FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of a user interface window when anew book file is opened;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a client-server document processingsystem;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a staple controlsystem;

FIG. 14 is a view showing a user interface (UI) window displayed by abookbinding application 104;

FIG. 15 is a view showing a “detailed settings of document” window bythe bookbinding application 104;

FIG. 16 is a view showing selectable options in a “designate staple”column shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a view showing a “detailed settings of chapter” window by thebookbinding application 104;

FIG. 18 is a view showing the data structure of a book file 103 handledby the bookbinding application 104;

FIG. 19 is a view showing detailed document setting information in afield 1802 shown in FIG. 18 in more detail;

FIG. 20 is a view showing document finishing information in a field 1902shown in FIG. 19 in more detail;

FIG. 21 is a view showing detailed chapter setting information in afield 1803 shown in FIG. 18 in more detail;

FIG. 22 is a view showing detailed setting information of each chaptershown in FIG. 21 in more detail;

FIG. 23 is a view showing chapter finishing information in a field 2202shown in FIG. 22 in more detail;

FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing setting processing by the bookbindingapplication 104; and

FIG. 25 is a view showing a print sequence among the bookbindingapplication 104, a printer driver 106, and a printer 107.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An embodiment according to the present invention will be described indetail in accordance with the accompanying drawings.

<General Description of System>

A document processing system according to the present invention will begenerally described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12. This documentprocessing system includes an electronic original writer which convertsa data file created by a general application into an electronic originalfile, and a bookbinding application which provides a function of editingthe electronic original file. The document processing file enablescreating and editing a document made up of created data, and increasesthe operability to efficiently edit the document.

<System Configuration and Operation>

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the software structure of the documentprocessing system according to this embodiment. The document processingsystem is implemented by a digital computer 100 (to be also referred toas a host computer hereinafter) as an embodiment suited to theinformation processing apparatus of the present invention. A generalapplication 101 shown in FIG. 1 is an application program which providesfunctions such as wordprocessing, spreadsheet, photo-retouch, draw,paint, presentation, and text editing. The general application 101 has aprinting function corresponding to the OS. Such applications utilize apredetermined interface (generally called GDI) provided by the OS(Operating System) in printing application data such as created documentdata or image data. To print created data, the general application 101transmits an output command (called a GDI function) which is determinedin advance for the output module of the OS providing the interface andhas an OS-dependent format. The output module which has received theoutput command converts the output command into a format processible byan output device such as a printer, and outputs the converted command(called a DDI function). Since the format processible by the outputdevice changes depending on the type of device, the manufacturer, andthe model, a device driver is provided for each device. The OS convertsa command by using the device driver, generates print data, and combinesprint data by JL (Job Language) to generate a print job. When the OS isMicrosoft Windows, the output module is a GDI (Graphic Device Interface)module.

An electronic original writer 102 is an improvement of the devicedriver, and is a software module provided to implement the documentprocessing system. The electronic original writer 102 does not target aspecific output device, and converts an output command into a formatprocessible by a bookbinding application 104 or printer driver 106 (tobe described in detail later). The format (to be referred to as anelectronic original format hereinafter) converted by the electronicoriginal writer 102 is not particularly limited as far as each originalpage can be expressed by a detailed format. Of substantial standardformats, for example, the PDF format by Adobe Systems and the SVG formatcan be adopted as electronic original formats.

When the application 101 utilizes the electronic original writer 102,the electronic original writer 102 is designated as a device driver usedfor output, and then caused to execute printing. An electronic originalfile created by the electronic original writer 102 does not have acomplete electronic original file format. For this reason, theelectronic original writer 102 is designated as a device driver by thebookbinding application 104, and executes conversion of application datainto an electronic original file under the management of the bookbindingapplication 104. The bookbinding application 104 completes a newincomplete electronic original file generated by the electronic originalwriter 102 as an electronic original file having the following format.In case of necessity to definitely discriminate these files, a filecreated by the electronic original writer 102 will be called an“electronic original file”, and an electronic original file given astructure by the bookbinding application 104 will be called a “bookfile”. If these files need not be particularly discriminated, a documentfile generated by an application, an electronic original file, and abook file are called document files (or document data).

As described above, the electronic original writer 102 is designated asa device driver, and the general application 101 prints the data.Application data is converted into an electronic original format inpages (to be referred to as logical pages or original pages hereinafter)defined by the application 101. The converted data is stored as anelectronic original file 103 in a storage medium such as a hard disk.The hard disk may be the local drive of the computer which implementsthe document processing system of this embodiment, or when the computeris connected to a network, may be a drive provided on the network.

The bookbinding application 104 provides the user with a function ofloading and editing the electronic original file (or book file) 103. Thebookbinding application 104 provides no function of editing the contentsof each page, but a function of editing a chapter or book structure (tobe described later) made up of pages as a minimum unit.

To print the book file 103 edited by the bookbinding application 104,the bookbinding application 104 activates an electronic originaldespooler 105. The electronic original despooler 105 is a program moduleinstalled into the computer together with the bookbinding application.The electronic original despooler 105 is a module used to output drawingdata to a printer driver in printing a document (book file) used by thebookbinding application. The electronic original despooler 105 reads outa designated book file from the hard disk. To print each page in aformat described in the book file, the electronic original despooler 105generates an output command complying with the output module of the OSdescribed above, and outputs the command to the output module (notshown). At this time, the printer driver 106 of a printer 107 used as anoutput device is designated as a device driver. The output moduleconverts the received output command into a device command to output itto the printer driver 106 of the designated printer 107. The printerdriver 106 converts the output device command into a command such as apage description language interpretable by the printer 107. Theconverted command is transmitted from the printer driver 106 to theprinter 107 via a system spooler (not shown), and the printer 107 printsan image corresponding to the command.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware of the computer 100. InFIG. 2, a CPU 201 executes a program such as an OS, general application,or bookbinding application which is stored in the program ROM of a ROM203 or loaded from a hard disk 211 to a RAM 202, and realizes thesoftware structure in FIG. 1 or flow chart procedures (to be describedlater). The RAM 202 functions as the main memory or work area of the CPU201. A keyboard controller (KBC) 205 controls a key input from akeyboard 209 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC)206 controls the display on a CRT display 210. A disk controller (DKC)207 controls access to the hard disk (HD) 211 or floppy disk (FD) whichstores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files,editing files (to be described later), and the like. A PRTC 208 controlssignal exchange with the connected printer 107. An NC 212 is connectedto a network, and executes communication control processing with anotherdevice connected to the network.

<Electronic Original Data Format>

Before the bookbinding application 104 is described in detail, the bookfile data format will be explained. The book file has a three-layeredstructure similar to a paper-medium book. The upper layer is called a“book”, resembles one book, and defines the attributes of the entirebook. The intermediate layer corresponds to a chapter in the book, andis also called a “chapter”. As for each chapter, its attributes can bedefined. The lower layer is a “page”, and corresponds to each pagedefined by an application program. As for each page, its attributes canbe defined. One book may include a plurality of chapters, and onechapter may similarly include a plurality of pages.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram schematically showing an example of the bookfile format. As shown in FIG. 3A, this example represents a book,chapter, and page in the book file using corresponding nodes. One bookfile includes one book. The book and chapter are a concept for defininga book structure, and contain, as entities, defined attribute values andlinks to lower layers. The page has, as an entity, data of each pageoutput from an application program. In addition to an attribute value,the page contains the entity of an original page (original page data)and a link to each original page data.

In some cases, a print page to be output onto a paper medium or the likeincludes a plurality of original pages. This structure is displayed notby a link but by an attribute in the book, chapter, or page layer.

In FIG. 3A, a book 301 defines a book attribute, and is linked to twochapters 302A and 302B. These links display that the chapters 302A and302B are included in the book 301. The chapter 302A is linked to pages303A and 303B, which represents that the chapter 302A includes thesepages. The pages 303A and 303B define attribute values, and containlinks to original page data (1) and (2) serving as entities. These linksrepresent data (1) and (2) of original page data 304, as shown in FIG.3B, and display that the entities of the pages 303A and 303B areoriginal page data (1) and (2).

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a list of book attributes. As for an item which canbe defined repetitively on a lower layer, the attribute value of thelower layer is preferentially adopted. As for an item contained in onlythe book attribute, a value defined in the book attribute is effectiveover the book. An item repetitively defined on a lower layer is adefault value used when this item is not defined in the lower layer.Each item shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B does not always correspond to oneconcrete item, but may contain a plurality of relevant items.

FIG. 5 shows a list of chapter attributes, and FIG. 6 shows a list ofpage attributes. The relationship between chapter attributes and pageattributes is the same as that between book attributes and lower layerattributes.

As can be apparent from FIGS. 4A to 6, items unique to book attributesare six items: printing method, details of bookbinding, front/backcover, index sheet, slip sheet, and chaptering. These items are definedover the book. As printing method attributes, three values: single-sidedprinting, double-sided printing, and bookbinding printing can bedesignated. Bookbinding printing is a method of printing data in aformat which allows bookbinding by bundling a separately designatednumber of paper sheets, folding the bundle into two, and binding thebundle. As detailed bookbinding attributes, the opening direction andthe number of paper sheets to be bundled can be designated whenbookbinding printing is designated.

The front/back cover attribute includes designation of adding papersheets serving as front and back covers when an electronic original filecombined as a book is printed, and designation of contents to be printedon the added paper sheets. The index sheet attribute includesdesignation of inserting a deckle-edged index sheet separately preparedin a printing apparatus for chaptering, and designation of contents tobe printed on the index (deckle-edged) sheet. This attribute becomeseffective when a printing apparatus to be used is equipped with aninserter having an inserting function of inserting a paper sheetprepared separately from a print paper sheet into a desired position, orwhen a plurality of sheet cassettes can be used. This also applies tothe slip sheet attribute.

The slip sheet attribute includes designation of inserting a paper sheetfed from an inserter or sheet feed cassette for chaptering, anddesignation of a sheet feed source when a slip sheet is inserted.

The chaptering attribute includes designation of whether to use a newpaper sheet, use a new print page, or do nothing particular at a chapterbreak. In single-sided printing, the use of a new paper sheet and theuse of a new print page are the same. In double-sided printing, acontinuous chapter is not printed on one paper sheet if “the use of anew paper sheet” is designated, but may be printed on the upper andlower surfaces of one paper sheet if “the use of a new print page” isdesignated.

As for the chapter attribute, there is no item unique to the chapter,and all items overlap those of the book attribute. If the definition ofthe chapter attribute is different from that of the book attribute, avalue defined by the chapter attribute precedes. Items common to onlythe book and chapter attributes are five items: paper size, paperdirection, N-up printing designation, enlargement/reduction, anddischarge method. The N-up printing designation attribute is an item fordesignating the number of original pages included in one print page.Layouts which can be designated are 1×1, 1×2, 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, and thelike. The discharge method attribute is an item for designating whetherto staple discharged paper sheets. The effectiveness of this itemdepends on whether the printing apparatus has a staple function.

Items unique to the page attribute are a page rotation attribute, zoom,layout designation, annotation, and page division. The page rotationattribute is an item for designating the rotation angle when an originalpage is laid out on a print page. The zoom attribute is an item fordesignating the zoom ratio of an original page. The zoom ratio isdesignated based on a virtual logical page region size=100%. The virtuallogical page region is a region occupied by one original page whenoriginal pages are laid out in accordance with N-up designation or thelike. For example, the virtual logical page region is a regioncorresponding to one print page for 1×1, and a region obtained byreducing each side of one print page to about 70% for 1×2.

Attributes common to the book, chapter, and page are a watermarkattribute and header/footer attribute. The watermark is a separatelydesignated image or character string printed over data created by anapplication. The header and footer are watermarks printed at the upperand lower margins of each page. For the header and footer, items such asa page number, and time and date which can be designated by variablesare prepared. Contents which can be designated by the watermarkattribute and header/footer attribute are common to the chapter andpage, but are different in the book. The book can set the contents ofthe watermark and header/footer, and designate how to print a watermarkor header/footer throughout the book. To the contrary, the chapter andpage can designate whether to print a watermark or header/footer set bythe book on the chapter or page.

<Book File Generation Procedures>

The book file has the above-described structure and contents. Proceduresof creating a book file by the bookbinding application 104 andelectronic original writer 102 will be explained. Book file generationprocedures are realized as part of book file editing operation by thebookbinding application 104.

FIG. 7 shows procedures when the bookbinding application 104 opens abook file. Whether a book file to be opened is one to be newly createdor an existing one is checked (step S701). If YES in step S701, a bookfile including no chapter is newly created (step S702). In the exampleshown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the newly created book file is a book nodewhich has only the book node 301 without any link to a chapter node. Asthe book attribute, a set of attributes prepared in advance for creationof a new book file are applied.

Then, a UI (User Interface) window for editing the new book file isdisplayed (step S704). FIG. 11 shows an example of the UI window when abook file is newly created. In this case, a UI window 1100 does notdisplay any information because the book file does not have anysubstantial content.

If NO in step S701, a designated book file is opened (step S703), and aUI (User Interface) window is displayed in accordance with thestructure, attribute, and contents of the book file. FIG. 10 shows anexample of the UI window which displays the book file designated fromthe existing book files. The UI window 1100 has a tree portion 1101representing a book structure, and a preview portion 1102 displaying astate to be printed. The tree portion 1101 displays chapters included inthe book and pages included in each chapter by a tree structure, asshown in FIG. 3A. Pages displayed at the tree portion 1101 are originalpages. The preview portion 1102 displays reduced print page contents.The display order reflects the book structure.

Application data converted into an electronic original file by theelectronic original writer can be added as a new chapter to the openbook file. This function is called an electronic original importfunction. An electronic original is imported to the book file newlycreated by the procedures of FIG. 7, thereby giving an entity to thebook file. This function is activated by drag-and-drop operation ofapplication data to the window of FIG. 10.

FIG. 8 shows electronic original import procedures. An applicationprogram which has generated designated application data is activated.The electronic original writer 102 is designated as a device driver, andprints out application data to convert it into electronic original data(step S801). After conversion, whether the converted data is image datais checked (step S802). This determination can be achieved based on thefile extension of the application under the Windows OS. For example, anextension “bmp” represents Windows bitmap data; “jpg”, jpeg-compressedimage data; and “tiff”, tiff-format image data. If YES in step S802,processing in S801 can be skipped because an electronic original filecan be directly generated from image data without activating anapplication in S801.

If NO in step S802, the electronic original file generated in step S801is added as a new chapter to the book of a currently open book file(step S803). As for the chapter attribute, an attribute common to a bookattribute is set to a book attribute value, and a different attribute isset to a default value prepared in advance.

If YES in step S802, no new chapter is added in principle, and eachoriginal page included in the electronic original file generated in stepS801 is added to a designated chapter (step S804). For a file in which abook file is newly created, a new chapter is created, and each page ofthe electronic original file is added as a page belonging to thechapter. As for the page attribute, an attribute common to an upperlayer attribute is given the attribute value of the upper layerattribute, and an attribute which is defined in application data andinherited to the electronic original file is given a value defined inthe application data. For example, when N-up designation is defined inapplication data, the page inherits this attribute value. In this way, anew book file is created, or a new chapter is added.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of procedures of generating an electronicoriginal file by the electronic original writer 102 in step S801 shownin FIG. 8. A new electronic original file is created and opened (stepS901). An application corresponding to designated application data isactivated. The electronic original writer is set as a device driver totransmit an output command to the output module of the OS. The outputmodule converts the received output command into data of the electronicoriginal format by the electronic original writer 102, and outputs theconverted data (step S902). The output destination is the electronicoriginal file opened in step S901. Whether all designated data have beenconverted is checked (step S903), and if YES in step S903, theelectronic original file is closed (step S904). The electronic originalfile generated by the electronic original writer 102 is a filecontaining original page data entities shown in FIG. 3B.

<Editing of Book File>

As described above, a book file can be created from application data.The generated book file allows editing a chapter and page as follows.

-   (1) New document-   (2) Delete-   (3) Copy-   (4) Cut-   (5) Paste-   (6) Move-   (7) Change chapter name-   (8) Reassign page number/name-   (9) Insert cover-   (10) Insert slip sheet-   (11) Insert index sheet-   (12) Page layout of each original page

In addition, an operation of canceling executed editing operation, andan operation of restoring canceled operation can be performed. Theseediting functions enable editing operations such as consolidation of aplurality of book files, rearrangement of chapters and pages within abook file, delete of chapters and pages within a book file, layoutchange of an original page, and insertion of a slip sheet and indexsheet. By these operations, operation results are reflected onattributes shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 5 or on a book file structure. Forexample, a blank page is inserted into a designated portion by anoperation of newly adding a blank page. The blank page is processed asan original page. If the layout of an original page is changed, thechange contents are reflected on attributes such as the printing method,N-up printing, front/back cover, index sheet, slip sheet, andchaptering.

<Output of Book File>

The ultimate goal of a book file created and edited in the above manneris to print it out. The user selects a file menu from the UI window 1100of the bookbinding application shown in FIG. 10, and selects printingfrom this menu. Then, the book file is printed out from a designatedoutput device. At this time, the bookbinding application 104 creates ajob ticket from a currently open book file, and transfers this jobticket to the electronic original despooler 105. The electronic originaldespooler 105 converts the job ticket into an OS output command, e.g., aWindows GDI function, and transmits the command to an output module,e.g., GDI. The output module generates a command complying with a deviceby a designated printer driver 106, and transmits the command to thedevice.

The job ticket is data with a structure whose minimum unit is anoriginal page. The structure of the job ticket defines the layout of anoriginal page on paper. One job ticket is issued for one job. A documentnode is set at the top of the structure, and defines the attribute ofthe whole document such as double-sided printing/single-sided printing.A paper node belongs to the document node, and contains attributes suchas the identifier of paper for use and designation of a feed port in theprinter. A node for a sheet printed by the paper belongs to each papernode. One sheet corresponds to one paper sheet. A print page (physicalpage) belongs to each sheet. One physical page belongs to one sheet forsingle-sided printing, and two physical pages belong to one sheet fordouble-sided printing. An original page to be laid out on a physicalpage belongs to the physical page. The physical page attribute containsan original page layout.

The electronic original despooler 105 converts the job ticket into anoutput command to the output module.

<Another System Configuration>

The document processing system of this embodiment has generally beendescribed. This system is of stand-alone type. A server-client system asan extension of the stand-alone system also creates and edits a bookfile by almost the same arrangement and procedures. A book file andprint processing are managed by the server.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a server-clientdocument processing system. The client document processing system isconstituted by adding to the stand-alone system a DOMS (Document OutputManagement Service) driver 109 serving as a client module, a DOMS printservice module 110, and a DS (Document Service) client module 108. Aclient document processing system 1200 is connected to a documentmanagement server 1201, centralized print management server 1202, andprint server 1203. These servers are generally connected to the clientdocument processing system via a network. When the servers also functionas clients, they are connected by interprocess communication whichsimulates communication between networks.

The document management server 1201 and centralized print managementserver 1202 are connected to the client in the example shown in FIG. 12,but only either one may exist on the network. For example, if theconnected server is the document management server, a documentmanagement server-client system 1201SC including the client module 108is added to the stand-alone document management system. If the connectedserver is the centralized print management server 1202, a printmanagement server-client system 1202SC including a client module isadded.

The document management server 1201 stores a book file created andedited by the bookbinding application 104. To manage a book file by thedocument management server 1201, the book file is saved in a database1211 of the document management server 1201 instead of or in addition tothe local HD of a client PC. Save and read of a book file between thebookbinding application 104 and the document management server 1201 aredone via the DS client module 108 and a DS core 1212.

The centralized print management server 1202 manages printing of a bookfile stored in the client document processing system 1200 or documentmanagement server 1201. A print request from the client is transmittedto a DOMS WG server module 1221 of the centralized print managementserver 1202 via the DOMS driver 109 and DOMS print service module 110.To print a book file by the printer of the client, the centralized printmanagement server 1202 transfers electronic original data to theelectronic original despooler 105 via the DOMS print service module 110of the client. To print a book file by the print server 1203, thecentralized print management server 1202 transmits electronic originaldata to a DOMS print service module 1231 of the print server 1203. Forexample, the centralized print management server executes security checkon the qualification of a user who has issued a print request for asaved book file, or saves the print processing log. In this fashion, thedocument processing system can be implemented as both a stand-alonesystem and client-server system.

<Contents of Preview Display>

As described above, when the bookbinding application opens a book file,the user interface window 1100 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed. The treeportion 1101 displays a tree representing the structure of the openedbook (to be referred to as a “book of interest” hereinafter). At thepreview portion, three display methods are prepared in accordance withdesignation by the user. The first display method is an original viewmode in which an original page is directly displayed. In this originalview mode, the contents of an original page belonging to the book ofinterest are reduced and displayed. The display at the preview portion1102 does not reflect the layout. The second display method is a printview mode. In this print view mode, the preview portion 1102 displays anoriginal page which reflects the layout of the original page. The thirddisplay method is a simple print view mode. In this simple print viewmode, the display at the preview portion reflects not the contents ofeach original page but only the layout.

<Staple Control>

Staple control executed by the bookbinding application 104 of thecomputer 100 connected to a printer having a staple function will bedescribed next.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a staple controlsystem. As shown in FIG. 13, the staple control system is comprised ofthe host computer 100 shown in FIG. 2 and the printer 107 having thestaple function.

The arrangement of the printer 107 will be described below. Note thatthe present invention can be applied to a single device, a systemconstituted by a plurality of devices, or a system which performsprocessing while being connected via a network such as a LAN or WAN asfar as the functions of the present invention are realized.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the printer 107, reference numeral 1301 denotesa printer CPU which outputs an image signal as output information to aprinting unit (printer engine) 1306 connected via a printer unit I/F1305 to a system bus 1304 on the basis of a control program stored inthe program ROM of a ROM 1302 or a control program stored in an externalmemory 1303. The program ROM of the ROM 1302 stores the control programof the CPU 1301. The font ROM of the ROM 1302 stores font data used togenerate output information. For a printer having no external memory1303 such as a hard disk, the data ROM of the ROM 1302 storesinformation used on the host computer 100.

The CPU 1301 can communicate with the host computer 100 via an inputunit 1307 and notify the host computer 100 of internal information ofthe printer 107. A RAM 1308 functions as a main memory, work area, andthe like for the CPU 1301, and can expand the memory capacity by anoptional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown).

The RAM 1308 is used as an output information mapping area, environmentdata storage area, NVRAM, or the like. The external memory 1303 such asa hard disk (HD) or IC card is access-controlled by a memory controller(MC) 1309. The external memory 1303 is connected as an option, andstores font data, emulation programs, form data, and the like. Anoperation panel 1311 has operation switches, LED indicators, and thelike.

The external memory 1303 is not limited to one, and a plurality ofexternal memories can be used. A plurality of external memories can beconnected which include an optional font card in addition to a built-infont card and store programs for interpreting the printer controllanguages of different language systems. Further, the printer 107 mayuse an NVRAM (not shown) to store printer mode setting information fromthe operation panel 1311.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a user interface (UI) window displayed by thebookbinding application 104. As described above, the bookbindingapplication 104 can perform the function setting, of the printingapparatus, such as staple setting as well as editing such as change ofthe page order of a document, document copy, and document delete, andcan print a document at a designated printing apparatus. A left region1041 shown in FIG. 14 displays a tree view of a document structure. Thedocument is formed from a plurality of chapters, and each chapter isformed from a set of original pages. A right region 1402 displays aprint preview of each page.

FIG. 15 is a view showing the “detailed settings of document” window bythe bookbinding application 104. The “detailed settings of document”window is activated from the “detailed settings of document” menu of theediting menu or the “detailed settings of document” button on the toolbar displayed on the UI window shown in FIG. 14. This window is used forsetting attributes which influence the whole document. As shown in FIG.15, this window is constituted by four sheets, “page settings” 1501,“finishing” 1502, “edit” 1503, and “paper feed” 1504. This example showsa state wherein the “finishing” 1502 sheet is displayed. In the“finishing” 1502 sheet, finishing setting can be mainly performed, andstaple designation and staple position settings can be instructed.

FIG. 16 is a view showing options selectable in the “designate staple”column shown in FIG. 15. Referring to FIG. 16, “none” 1601 means that nostaple function is used, “all pages at once” 1602 means that a wholedocument is bound by one staple, and “for each chapter” 1603 means thateach chapter is stapled. In this manner, in addition to an instructionfor stapling the whole document, an instruction for stapling eachchapter which is a part of the document can be issued. In the documentshown in FIG. 14, if the “all pages at once” 1602 is selected, all the16 pages are stapled altogether. If the “for each chapter” 1603 isselected, the eight pages of the first chapter, the four pages of thesecond chapter, and the four pages of the third chapter are respectivelystapled.

FIG. 17 is a view showing the “detailed settings of chapter” window bythe bookbinding application 104. While a chapter icon in the tree viewdisplayed in the left region 1041 of the UI window shown in FIG. 14 isselected, the “detailed settings of chapter” window can be activatedfrom the “detailed settings of chapter” menu or the “detailed settingsof chapter” button on the tool bar. Likewise the “detailed settings ofdocument” window, this window is constituted by four sheets, “pagesettings” 1701, “finishing” 1702, “edit” 1703, and “paper feed” 1704.This example shows a state wherein the “finishing” sheet 1702 isdisplayed. The setting items of the “detailed settings of chapter”window are the setting items out of the setting items of the “detailedsettings of document” window, which can be changed for each chapter. Inthe initial state of the “detailed settings of chapter” window, the“making (sheet name) sheet settings coincide with document” (the name ofeach sheet is parenthesized) check box prepared for each sheet ischecked. Each of other items of the “detailed settings of chapter”window is grayed out to make an unchangeable state while the samesetting as that of each item designated in “detailed settings ofdocument” is designated in each item. If the “making (sheet name) sheetsettings coincide with document” check box is canceled, each item of the“detailed settings of chapter” window changes to a changeable state.

In the “detailed settings of document” window shown in FIG. 15, if the“all pages at once” 1602 as shown in FIG. 16 is designated as the“designate staple”, since the instruction for stapling the documentaltogether is designated to the document, no settings for each chapteris changeable in the “detailed settings of chapter” window. That is, the“making finishing sheet settings coincide with document” check box isOFF-and grayed out, so it is in the unchangeable state. Similarly, the“stapling” check box displayed under the “making finishing sheetsettings coincide with document” check box is OFF and grayed out, so itis unchangeable.

On the other hand, if the “for each chapter” 1603 is designated as the“designate staple” in the “detailed settings of document” window shownin FIG. 15, the “making finishing sheet settings coincide with document”check box of the “detailed settings of chapter” window is ON, and the“stapling” check box displayed thereunder is OFF and grayed out. In thiscase, when the “making finishing sheet settings coincide with document”check box is checked, the “stapling” check box becomes changeable. Inthis state, if the “stapling” check box is canceled, the setting can bechanged such that only a corresponding chapter is not stapled.

In addition, if the “none” 1601 is designated as the “designate staple”in the “detailed settings of document” window shown in FIG. 15, since aninstruction of no stapling is designated to the document, no settingsfor each chapter are changed in the “detailed settings of chapter”window. That is, the “making finishing sheet settings coincide withdocument” check box on the “detailed settings of chapter” window is OFFand grayed out, so it is in the unchangeable state. Similarly, the“stapling” check box displayed under the “making finishing sheetsettings coincide with document” check box is OFF and grayed out, so itis unchangeable. Note that this embodiment exemplifies the case whereinthe staple setting is unchangeable in the “detailed settings of chapter”window when the document setting is set not to be stapled. However,similar to the case wherein the “for each chapter” is designated as thestaple designation of the document, the staple designation for eachchapter may be changeable.

When a user is to designate a staple range in a document, he/she editsthe document to form one chapter out of a set of pages to be stapled,and designates “for each chapter” in the “designate staple” in the“detailed settings of document” window, thereby designating staplesetting for each chapter. When a user is to designate such that thechapter is not stapled, he/she selects the chapter not to be stapled,activates the “detailed settings of chapter” window, and cancels the“making finishing sheet settings coincide with document” check box tocancel the “stapling” check box. With this operation, in addition to asetting means for stapling the whole document altogether, a means forsetting whether each chapter is stapled or not can be provided.

FIG. 18 is a view showing the data structure of the document file 103handled by the bookbinding application 104. Referring to FIG. 18, afield 1801 records document structure information, i.e., informationabout a document structure displayed on the tree view of the UI windowof the bookbinding application 104 shown in FIG. 14. A field 1802records detailed document setting information, i.e., information set inthe “detailed settings of document” window shown in FIG. 15. A field1803 records detailed chapter setting information, i.e., information setin the “detailed settings of chapter” window shown in FIG. 17. A field1804 records detailed page setting information, i.e., informationsettable for each page. Like the case wherein the detailed settings ofthe document can be changed in the “detailed settings of chapter”window, in the “detailed settings of page” window, settings aboutsetting items to be changeable for each page can be saved with respectto the detailed settings of the document and chapter. A field 1805records original information, i.e., drawing information of each originalpage. Pieces of information used for the preview display in the rightregion of FIG. 14 are saved in pages. The book file 103 containsinformation necessary for each document, and a description thereof willbe omitted.

FIG. 19 is a view showing detailed document setting information of thefield 1802 shown in FIG. 18 in more detail. Referring to FIG. 19, afield 1901 stores document page setting information; a field 1902,document finishing information; a field 1903, document editinginformation; and a field 1904, document paper feed information. Thesepieces of information coincide with contents set on the “page settings”1501, “finishing” 1502, “edit” 1503, and “paper feed” 1504 sheets of the“detailed settings of document” window shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 20 is a view showing document finishing information of the previewportion 1902 shown in FIG. 19 in more detail. Referring to FIG. 20, afield 2001 stores a printing method; a field 2002, a binding direction;a field 2003, a binding width; a field 2004, original adjustment; afield 2005, staple designation; a field 2006, a staple position; a field2007, a punch hole; a field 2008, the presence/absence of Z-fold; afield 2009, a chapter break; and a field 2010, other settings. Thesepieces of information coincide with contents set on the “finishing” 1502sheet of the “detailed settings of document” window shown in FIG. 15.

The field 2010 contains settings (not shown: for example, settings suchas saddle stitch and center binding margin which become valid only inbookbinding printing) necessary when bookbinding printing is designatedas the printing method 2001, a description of which will be omitted.

FIG. 21 is a view showing detailed chapter setting information of thefield 1803 shown in FIG. 18 in more detail. As shown in FIG. 21,detailed setting information for each chapter is sequentially storedfrom a field 2101.

FIG. 22 is a view showing detailed setting information for each chaptershown in. FIG. 21 in more detail. Referring to FIG. 21, a field 2201stores chapter page setting information; a field 2202, chapter finishinginformation; a field 2203, chapter editing information; and a field2204, chapter paper feed information. These pieces of informationcoincide with contents set on the “page settings” 1701, “finishing”1702, “edit” 1703, and “paper feed” 1704 sheets of the “detailedsettings of chapter” window shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 23 is a view showing chapter finishing information of the field2202 shown in FIG. 22. Referring to FIG. 23, a field 2301 stores “makingfinishing sheet settings coincide with document”; and 2302, “stapling”.These pieces of information coincide with contents set on the“finishing” 1702 sheet of the “detailed settings of chapter” windowshown in FIG. 17.

Processing of determining a staple attribute during editing a book fileattribute by a user from the UI window of the bookbinding application104.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing setting processing by the bookbindingapplication 104. In step S2401, the bookbinding application 104 acquiresdetailed document setting information of a document included in the bookfile 103 during editing, and thereafter, performs processing ofdetermining the staple attribute of a job. In step S2402, whether “allpages at once” is set in the “designate staple” contained in detaileddocument setting information acquired in step S2401 is checked. If YESin step S2402, the flow shifts to step S2403 to change the stapleattribute of a job to “ON”. If NO in step S2402, the flow shifts to stepS2404 to change the staple attribute to “OFF”. Then a job startinstruction is issued in step S2405, and a job attribute containing thestaple attribute of the job is issued in step S2406.

In step S2407, the number of all chapters included in the book file 103is set as a variable N, and the variable K of the chapters is initiatedto 0. In step S2408, whether all the chapters are completely processed(K=N) is checked. If NO in step S2408, the flow shifts to step S2409 toincrement the variable K, and processing of determining a stapleattribute of a binder is performed in steps S2410 to S2415. A print jobis made up of a plurality of binders, and each binder can define a setof finishing settings in a print job. The binder attribute contains astaple attribute, so a staple range can be designated in one print job.

In step S2410, whether “for each chapter” is set in the “designatestaple” of the “detailed settings of document” window is checked. If NOin step S2410, since it means that staple instruction is not defined tothe binder, the flow shifts to step S2415 to set “OFF” in the stapleattribute of the binder. If YES in step S2410, the flow shifts to stepS2411 to acquire detailed setting information of the Kth chapter whichis currently printed. Subsequently, in step S2412, whether the “makingfinishing sheet settings coincide with document” setting contained inthe acquired detailed setting information of the Kth chapter is “ON” ischecked. If YES in step S2412, it means that the document settingsinstruct stapling for each chapter, and this chapter follows thedocument attribute, i.e., the setting of stapling for each chapter.Therefore, the flow shifts to step S2414 to set “ON” in the stapleattribute of the binder.

If NO in step S2412, the flow shifts to step S2413 to check whether the“stapling” setting of the “detailed settings of chapter” window is “ON”.If YES in step S2413, since it means that this chapter is stapled foreach chapter, the flow shifts to step S2414 to set “ON” in the stapleattribute of the binder. If NO in step S2413, since it means that thedocument attribute of stapling for each chapter is changed, and thischapter is not stapled, the flow shifts to step S2415 to set “OFF” inthe staple attribute of the binder.

After the staple attribute of the binder is determined in step S2414 orS2415, the flow shifts to step S2416 to issue a binder startinstruction, and the binder attribute containing the staple attribute ofthe binder is issued in step S2417. Subsequently, in step S2418, piecesof drawing information of pages included in the Kth chapter are read outfrom the original information of the field 1805, and printing processingis performed by the electronic original despooler 105. Thereafter, instep S2419, a binder end instruction is issued to end printingprocessing of the Kth chapter. The flow then returns to step S2408 tocheck whether printing processing for all the chapters ends. If NO instep S2408, the above processing is repeated. If YES in step S2408,since it means that the printing processing for all the chapters ends,the flow shifts to step S2420 to issue a job end instruction, and theprinting processing of the book file 103 ends. Printing processing inthis embodiment does not correspond to printing processing by a printer,but corresponds to processing in which the bookbinding application 104makes the electronic original despooler generate drawing data and makesthe printer driver generate print data (print job) via the OS.

How the processing shown in FIG. 24 is controlled among the bookbindingapplication 104, printer driver 106, and printer 107 will be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 25.

FIG. 25 is a view showing a print sequence among the bookbindingapplication 104, printer driver 106, and printer 107. In the processesof the steps S2405 and S2406 shown in FIG. 24, while following the printprocessing procedures of the OS, the bookbinding application 104executes print job generation processing, e.g., CreatedDC( ) orStartDoc( ) in the Windows OS. This processing is notified to theprinter driver 106 via the GDI, and the printer driver 106 performs jobgeneration processing and job attribute setting processing. Morespecifically, the printer driver 106 generates a command for instructingto the printer 107 a job attribute containing a job start instructionand a staple setting, and transmits the command to the printer 107 via aprocedure by the OS for transmitting data to the printer 107.

The bookbinding application 104 executes ExtEscape(BINDER_START) in theprocessing of issuing a binder start instruction in step S2416 shown inFIG. 24, and notifies the printer driver 106 of the start of a binderwhich can designate an independent finishing attribute. Morespecifically, this means notification of the start of printing achapter. The bookbinding application 104 then executes ResetDC( ) tonotify the printer driver 106 of a binder attribute. More specifically,the bookbinding application 104 notifies the printer driver 106 of abinder attribute containing the staple setting of the chapter. Byreceiving these notifications, the printer driver 106 performs bindergeneration processing and binder attribution setting processing, inwhich the printer 107 is notified of the start of the binder. Morespecifically, the printer driver 106 generates a command for instructingto the printer 107 a binder attribute containing a staple settinginstruction, and transmits the command to the printer 107 via aprocedure by the OS for transmitting data to the printer 107.

Thereafter, the bookbinding application 104 notifies the printer driver106 via the GDI of the drawing contends of each page contained in thebinder in the processing of step S2418 in FIG. 24, i.e., the drawingcontents of each original page included in the chapter. As describedabove, the printer driver 106 receives the drawing contents in the DDIformat obtained by converting the GDI format, converts the receivedcontents into a drawing instruction such as PDL interpretable by theprinter, and transmits the drawing instruction to the printer 107.

The bookbinding application 104 notifies the printer driver 106 of theend of the current binder and the start of the next binder by usingExtEscape(BINDER_END) and ExtEscape(BINDER_START). Since these twonotifications have the purpose of notifying the binder boundary, theycan be combined into one notification for notifying a binder boundary.

The bookbinding application 104 repeats the above processing by thenumber of chapters. Finally, in step S2420 shown in the FIG. 24, whilefollowing printing processing procedure of the OS, the bookbindingapplication 104 executes print job end processing, e.g., EndDoc( ) inthe Windows OS. This processing is notified to the printer driver 106via the GDI, and the printer driver 106 performs job end processing.More specifically, the printer driver 106 generates a command forissuing a job end instruction to the printer 107, and transmits thecommand to the printer 107 via a procedure by the OS for transmittingdata to the printer 107.

This embodiment exemplifies the practical API such as ExtEscape( ) andResetDC( ) as means for performing notification from the bookbindingapplication 104 to the printer driver 106 via the GDI. However, theabove-described processing can be obviously implemented even by usingmeans other than the API as far as the bookbinding application 104 canexecute printing processing in synchronization with the printer driver106.

With this processing, a document and a document whose chapter undergoesstaple settings can be transmitted to the printer 107 as one print job.

On the other hand, when receiving the job attribute setting by SetJobshown in FIG. 25 which contains staple instruction to the job, theprinter 107 combines all pages obtained until JobEnd is received andstaples all the pages together. When no staple is instructed to the job,and the binder attribute setting received by each SetBinder containsstaple instruction to the binder, the printer 107 combines all pageswhich are included in the binder and obtained until BinderEnd isreceived, and staples all the pages together.

With this operation, this embodiment can execute stapling processing fora unitary print job or part of print job.

According to this embodiment, staple instruction can be performed to anarbitrary portion of a document. This allows to define staple settingsto a plurality of parts of a document, respectively, and define staplesetting to only one part of a document.

In addition, a plurality of jobs are bound into one job, so that aplurality of staple processes can be realized in one print job. This notonly reduces the cumbersome operation but also, like the general printjob, executes print job control such as stop of printing and statusdisplay with respect one print job in printing containing the pluralityof staple processes. Further, no interrupts are generated from otherprint jobs even in a shared printer connected to a network.

The present invention may be applied to a system constituted by aplurality of devices (e.g., a host computer, an interface device, areader, a printer, and the like) or an apparatus comprising a singledevice (e.g., a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, or the like).

The object of the present invention is realized even by supplying astorage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functionof the above-described embodiment to a system or an apparatus, andcausing the computer (or a CPU or an MPU) of the system or the apparatusto read out and execute the program codes stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program codes read out from the storage medium realizethe function of the above-described embodiment by themselves, and thestorage medium storing the program codes constitutes the presentinvention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program codes, a floppy disk, ahard disk, an optical disk, a magnetooptical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, amagnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can beused.

The function of the above-described embodiment are realized not onlywhen the readout program codes are executed by the computer but alsowhen the OS (Operating System) running on the computer performs part orall of actual processing on the basis of the instructions of the programcodes.

The function of the above-described embodiment are also realized whenthe program codes read out from the storage medium are written in thememory of a function expansion board inserted into the computer or afunction expansion unit connected to the computer, and the CPU of thefunction expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or allof actual processing on the basis of the instructions of the programcodes.

As has been described above, according to the embodiment, the user canexecute the staple designation to an arbitrary part in a document. Inaddition, a plurality of staple processes can be realized in one printjob.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments andvarious changes and modifications can be made within the spirit andscope of the present invention. Therefore to apprise the public of thescope of the present invention, the following claims are made.

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a storage device; afirst designation unit configured to receive designation of a firststapling function in which a multi-page document is stapled; a displaycontrol unit configured to display a setting screen configured toreceive designation of a second stapling function in which a partselected in the multi-page document is stapled and other parts notselected in the multi-page document are not stapled, wherein the displaycontrol unit changes the setting screen to a setting screen which doesnot receive designation of the second stapling function when thedesignation of the first stapling function is received; a seconddesignation unit configured to receive the designation of the secondstapling function in accordance with an instruction input via thesetting screen which is constructed to receive the designation of thesecond stapling function displayed by the display control unit; and agenerating unit configured to generate a print job such that themulti-page document is stapled when the designation of the firststapling function is received by the first designation unit, andconfigured to generate a print job such that the multi-page document isprinted, the part selected in the multi-page document is stapled and theother parts not selected in the multi-page document are not stapled whenthe designation of the second stapling function is received by thesecond designation unit.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe setting screen is provided by an application.
 3. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a selecting unit configured toselect a part of the multi-page document when the second staplingfunction is designated by the second designation unit; and a tree viewdisplay unit configured to display a tree view representing thestructure of the multi-page document, stored in said storage device, ona display unit, wherein the selecting unit selects, as a chapter, thepart of the multi-page document according to the tree view displayed bythe tree view display unit.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising a printing setting instructions unit configured toinstruct a change of printing setting to a printer driver when theexecution of the stapling operation is set for a part of the multi-pagedocument, and configured to perform output processing of the part. 5.The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processingapparatus further comprises an application and a printer driver.
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the part is a chapter includedin the multi-page document, and wherein the display control unitdisplays the setting screen when a function which each part is stapledindividually is designated.
 7. A setting method for an informationprocessing apparatus, the method comprising: a first designation step ofreceiving designation of a first stapling function in which a multi-pagedocument is stapled; a display control step of displaying a settingscreen configured to receive designation of a second stapling functionin which a part selected in the multi-page document is stapled and otherparts not selected in the multi-page document are not stapled, whereinthe display control step changes the setting screen to a setting screenwhich does not receive designation of the second stapling function whenthe designation of the first stapling function is received; a seconddesignation step of receiving the designation of the second staplingfunction in accordance with an instruction input via the setting screenwhich is constructed to receive the designation of the second staplingfunction displayed by the display control step; and a generating step ofgenerating a print job such that the multi-page document is stapled whenthe designation of the first stapling function is received by the firstdesignation step and generating a print job such that the multi-pagedocument is printed, the part selected in the multi-page document isstapled and the other parts not selected in the multi-page document arenot stapled when the designation of the second stapling function isreceived by the second designation step.
 8. The method according toclaim 7, wherein the setting screen is provided by an application. 9.The method according to claim 7, further comprising: a selecting step ofselecting a part of the multi-page document when the second staplingfunction is designated in the second designation step; and a tree viewdisplay step of displaying a tree view representing the structure of themulti-page document on a display unit, wherein the selecting stepselects, as a chapter, the part of the multi-page document according tothe tree view displayed by the tree view display step.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 7, further comprising a printing setting instructionsstep of instructing a change of printing setting to a printer driverwhen the execution of the stapling operation is set for a part of themulti-page document, and then performing output processing of the part.11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the information processingapparatus further comprises an application and a printer driver.
 12. Themethod according to claim 7, wherein the part is a chapter included inthe multi-page document, and wherein the setting screen is displayedwhen a function which each part is stapled individually is designated.13. A non-transitory computer-readable memory medium that retrievablystores a computer-executable program, wherein said computer-executableprogram causes a computer to execute a setting method for an informationprocessing apparatus, the method comprising: a first designation step ofreceiving designation of a first stapling function in which a multi-pagedocument is stapled; a display control step of displaying a settingscreen configured to receive designation of a second stapling functionin which a part selected in the multi-page document is stapled and otherparts not selected in the multi-page document are not stapled, whereinthe display control step changes the setting screen to a setting screenwhich does not receive designation of the second stapling function whenthe designation of the first stapling function is received; a seconddesignation step of receiving the designation of the second staplingfunction in accordance with an instruction input via the setting screenwhich is constructed to receive the designation of the second staplingfunction displayed by the display control step; and a generating step ofgenerating a print job such that the multi-page document is stapled whenthe designation of the first stapling function is received by the firstdesignation step and generating a print job such that the multi-pagedocument is printed, the part selected in the multi-page document isstapled and the other parts not selected in the multi-page document arenot stapled when the designation of the second stapling function isreceived by the second designation step.
 14. The non-transitorycomputer-readable memory medium according to claim 13, wherein thesetting screen is provided by an application.
 15. The non-transitorycomputer-readable memory medium according to claim 13, the methodfurther comprising: a selecting step of selecting a part of themulti-page document when the second stapling function is designated inthe second designation step; and a tree view display step of displayinga tree view representing the structure of the multi-page document on adisplay unit, wherein the selecting step selects, as a chapter, the partof the multi-page document according to the tree view displayed by thetree view display step.
 16. The non-transitory computer-readable memorymedium according to claim 13, the method further comprising a printingsetting instructions step of instructing a change of printing setting toa printer driver when the execution of the stapling operation is set fora part of the multi-page document, and then performing output processingof the specific part.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable memorymedium according to claim 13, wherein the information processingapparatus further comprises an application and a printer driver.
 18. Thenon-transitory computer-readable memory medium according to claim 13,wherein the part is a chapter included in the multi-page document, andwherein the setting screen is displayed when a function which each partis stapled individually is designated.